IRISH LANGUAGE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 17 December 1941, Page 6

IRISH LANGUAGE

SLOW PROGRESS OF REVIVAL. Mr de Valera has confessed to the Gaelic League that he is disappointed with the slow progress of the revival of the use of the Irish language, says the “Manchester Guardian.” He went so far as to say that the Gaelic League .was swimming “against the tide of popular opinion.” His disappointment is the sharper because he had expected that political independence would foster enthusiasm for the language, and 20 years of self-government had falsified his hope. Is this surprising? Was not Mr de Valera’s confidence rather too simple? The revival of the Irish language was part of the remarkable renaissance of the early years of the century. That renaissance, distinguished by such names as Yeats and “A.E.,” Synge and Lady Gregory, Douglas Hyde and John Mac Neill, rescued an ancient culture which seemed in danger of losing its individual strength and colour. The political prospect was discouraging. Gladstone’s effort for Ireland had been defeated. To speak Irish was one way of defending your country. Today Ireland is in a very different position. There is no external coercion to stimulate her spirit. Whether her language lives or dies depends on herself alone. All the fierce excitement has gone. Ireland has selfgovernment, but she has lost the romantic glow of a struggle, centuries old, against a powerful neighbour. There is compulsion, but it is used not to forbid but to order an Irishman to speak Irish. This fact is significant. Human nature does not take kindly to dictation, least of all human nature in Ireland. ’ The Government would be wise to try gentler methods.